Texas mom: Russian boy was playing before he died

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — A Texas woman has told sheriff’s deputies that her 3-year-old adopted son from Russia was playing outside with his younger brother before she found the boy unresponsive.

Ector County Sheriff Mark Donaldson said today that dead boy’s mother told deputies that she was inside the family’s home outside of Odessa on Jan. 21 and came out to find Max Alan Shatto on the ground. He said deputies arrived at the home of Alan and Laura Shatto home as the ambulance was leaving with Max. The boy was pronounced dead at the hospital.

The medical examiner’s office said it couldn’t immediately be determined if bruises on Max’s body were intentional or accidental.

Russian authorities have blamed Max’s death on “inhuman treatment” by the adopted parents.